Prof. Dr. Hoffmann, Volker

Volker Hoffmann is an associate professor for sustainability and technology at the Department of Management, Technology, and Economics of ETH Zurich.

He received a diploma in chemical engineering from ETH Zurich in 1997 and a diploma in business administration from the University of Hagen, Germany, in 1999. In 1996/97 and 1999/2000 he worked as a visiting scholar and scientist at MIT where he investigated uncertainty propagation in large scale process models for the chemical industry (group of Gregory J. McRae). In 2001, he obtained his Ph.D. from ETH Zurich with a thesis on multi-objective decision making under uncertainty in chemical process design (group of Konrad Hungerbühler). Before joining the faculty of ETH Zurich in 2004, he was a project manager at McKinsey & Company where he worked in the chemical and electricity industry. He focused on strategy development for European utility companies, especially in the light of upcoming greenhouse gas regulations. During his career, Volker Hoffmann received several scholarships and awards including a German National Academic Foundation Scholarship (1994-97), an Ernest-Solvay-Scholarship (1996/97), and an Exchange Fellow Scholarship of the Alliance for Global Sustainability (1999/2000).

Volker Hoffmann's research at ETH Zurich centers on corporate strategies with respect to climate change, with a focus on climate policy and innovation. Recent research results are being published in journals such as the Journal of Management Studies, Global Environmental Change, Climate Policy, Energy Policy, the Journal of Industrial Ecology, the European Management Journal, Business Strategy & the Environment, Policy Sciences, Environmental Science & Policy, and Ecological Economics.

(auf deutsch)

Peer-reviewed journal publications

Reports & other publications

Peer-reviewed journal publications

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2012

• Peters M., Schneider M., Griesshaber T., Hoffmann V.H. (2012): "The impact of technology-push and demand-pull policies on technical change - does the locus of policies matter?" Research Policy Abstract

• Schmidt T.S., Schneider M., Hoffmann V.H. (2012): "Decarbonising the power sector via technological change - differing contributions from heterogeneous firms" Energy Policy 43, 466-479 Abstract

• Schmidt T.S., Schneider M., Rogge K.S., Schuetz M.J.A., Hoffmann V.H. (2012): "The effects of climate policy on the rate and direction of innovation – a survey on the EU ETS and the electricity sector", Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions 2 (2012) 23-48 Abstract

2011

• Furrer B., Hamprecht J., Hoffmann V.H. (2011): "Much Ado About Nothing? How Banks Respond to Climate Chante", Business & Society, December 12, 2011 Abstract

• Engau C., Hoffmann V.H., Busch T. (2011): „Airlines’ Flexibility in Facing Regulatory Uncertainty: To Anticipate or Adapt?”, California Management Review, 54(1): 107-125

• Busch T., Weinhofer G., Hoffmann V.H. (2011): „The carbon performance of the 100 largest US electricity producers”, Utilities Policy, 19(2): 95-103

• Peters N., Hofstetter J. S., Hoffmann V.H. (2011): „Institutional entrepreneurship capabilities for interorganizational sustainable supply chain strategies”, The International Journal of Logistics Management, 22(1): 52-86 Abstract

• Ziegler A., Schwarzkopf J., Hoffmann V.H. (2011) "Stated Versus Revealed Knowledge: Determinants of Offsetting CO2 Emissions from Fuel Consumption in Vehicle Use", Energy Policy, Vol. 40, January 2012, pp. 422-431 Abstract

• Ziegler A., Busch T., Hoffmann V.H. (2011): "Disclosed Corporate Responses to Climate Change and Stock Performance: An International Empirical Analysis", Energy Economics. Vol. 33, pp. 1283-1294 Abstract
  

• Engau C., Hoffmann V.H. (2011): "Strategizing in an unpredictable climate: Exploring corporate strategies to cope with regulatory uncertainty", Long Range Planning 44 (2011) 42-63 Abstract
  

• Rogge K.S., Schneider M., Hoffmann V.H. (2011): "The innovation impact of the EU Emission Trading System - Findings of company case studies in the German Power Sector", Ecological Economics 70 (2011) 513–523 Abstract

• Delmas M., Hoffmann V.H., Kuss M. (2011): “Under the tip of the iceberg: absorptive capacity, environmental strategy and competitive advantage.", Business & Society 2011 50: 116-154

• Engau C., Hoffmann V.H. (2011): " Corporate Response Strategies to Regulatory Uncertainty: Evidence from Uncertainty about Post-Kyoto Regulation", Policy Sciences, Volume 44, Number 1, 53-80 Abstract
  

2010

• Busch, T., Hoffmann, V.H. (2010): "How hot is your bottom-line? Linking carbon and financial performance", Business & Society 2011 Volume 50 Issue 2: 233 - 265

• Rogge K.S., Hoffmann V.H. (2010): "The impact of the EU ETS on the sectoral innovation system for power generation technologies - Findings for Germany", Energy Policy 38 (2010): 7639-7652 Abstract

• Pinkse J., Kuss M.J., Hoffmann V.H. (2010): "On the implementation of a ‘global’ environmental strategy: The role of absorptive capacity", International Business Review 19 (2010): 160–177 Abstract

• Weinhofer G., Hoffmann V.H. (2010): "Mitigating climate change - how do corporate strategies differ?", Business Strategy and the Environment 19 (2): 77-89 Abstract

• Schneider M., Hendrichs H., Hoffmann V.H. (2010): "Navigating the Global Carbon Market - An analysis of the CDM’s value chain and prevalent business models", Energy Policy 38 (10): 277-287 Abstract

• Schneider M., Schmidt T., Hoffmann V.H. (2010): "Performance of Renewable Energy Technologies under the CDM", Climate Policy 10 (2010): 17–37 Abstract

2009

• Hoffmann V. H., Trautmann T., Hamprecht J. (2009): "Regulatory uncertainty – a reason to postpone investments? Not necessarily", Journal of Management Studies 46:7 (2009): 1227-1253 Abstract

• Engau C., Hoffmann V.H. (2009): "Effects of Regulatory Uncertainty on Corporate Strategy - An Analysis of Firm Responses to Uncertainty about Post-Kyoto Policy", Environmental Science & Policy 12 (2009): 766–777 Abstract

• Sugiyama H., Fischer U., Antonijuan E., Hoffmann V.H., Hirao M., Hungerbühler K.: "How do Different Process Options and Evaluation Settings affect Economic and Environmental Assessments? A Case Study on Methyl Methacrylate (MMA) Production Processes", Process Safety and Environmental Protection 87 (2009): 361–370 Abstract

• Hoffmann VH, Sprengel DC, Ziegler A, Kolb M, Abegg B (2009): "Determinants of Corporate Adaptation to Climate Change in  Winter Tourism: An Econometric Analysis", Global Environmental Change 19 (2009) 256–264 Abstract

• Busch, T., Hoffmann, V.H. (2009): Ecology-driven Real Options: an Investment Framework for Incorporating Uncertainties in the Context of the Natural Environment, Journal of Business Ethics, 90(2): 295-310

• Schneider M., Hoffmann V.H., Gurjar B.R. (2009): "Corporate Responses to the Clean Development Mechanism - the Indian Pulp and Paper Industry", Climate Policy 9 (2009): 255–272 Abstract

2008

• Hoffmann, V.H., Trautmann, T., Schneider, M. (2008): "A taxonomy for regulatory uncertainty - Application to the European Emission Trading Scheme", Environmental Science & Policy 11(8): 712-22 Abstract

• Hoffmann V.H., Busch T. (2008): "Corporate Carbon Performance Indicators: Carbon Intensity, Dependency, Exposure, and Risk", Journal of Industrial Ecology 12(4): 505-520 Free Download

• Schneider M., Holzer A., Hoffmann V.H. (2008): "Understanding the CDM’s contribution to technology transfer", Energy Policy 36(8): 2920-2928 Abstract

2007

• Hoffmann V.H. (2007): "EU ETS and Investment Decisions: The Case of the German Electricity Industry", European Management Journal 25(6): 464-474 Abstract

• Kolk A., Hoffmann V. (2007): "Business, Climate Change and Emissions Trading: Taking Stock and Looking Ahead", European Management Journal 25(6): 411-414

• V. Hoffmann, T. Busch (2007): "Carbon Constraints in the 14th and 21th century", Journal of Industrial Ecology, 11(2): 1-3

• Busch Timo, Hoffmann Volker H. (2007): "Emerging Carbon Constraints for Corporate Risk Management", Ecological Economics 62 (3-4): 518-528 Abstract

2004

• V.H. Hoffmann, G.J. McRae, K. Hungerbühler (2004): „Methodology for Early Stage Technology Assessment and Decision Making under Uncertainty – Application to the Selection of Chemical Processes”, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. (43): 4337-4349

2001

• V.H. Hoffmann, K. Hungerbühler, G.J. McRae (2001): “Multi-objective Screening and Evaluation of Chemical Process Technologies”, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. (40): 4513-4524

• M. Stroebe, V.H. Hoffmann, A. Zogg, M. Scheringer, K. Hungerbühler (2001): "Environmentally Oriented Design and Assessment of Chemical Products and Processes", Chimia 55 (10): 887-891

• G. Koller, D. Weirich, F. Brogli, E. Heinzle, V.H. Hoffmann, M.A. Verduyn, K. Hungerbühler (1998): "Ecological and Economic Objective Functions for Screening in Integrated Development of Fine Chemical Processes, II. Stream Allocation and Case Studies", Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., (37): 3408-3413

• E. Heinzle, D. Weirich, F. Brogli, V.H. Hoffmann, G. Koller, M.A. Verduyn, K. Hungerbühler (1998): "Ecological and Economic Objective Functions for Screening in Integrated Development of Fine Chemical Processes, I. Flexible and Expandable Framework Using Indices", Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., (37): 3395-3407

Reports & other publications

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2009

• Furrer B., Swoboda M., Hoffmann V.H. (2009): "Banking and Climate Change: Opportunities and Risks - An analysis of climate strategies in more than 100 banks worldwide", SAM, ETH, ZHAW (more information >>)

2008

• Hoffmann V.H., Trautmann T.: “Three types of impact from the European Emission Trading Scheme: direct cost, indirect cost, and uncertainty”, in Antes R. und Hansjürgens B. (eds.): Economics and Management of Climate Change, Springer, New York 2008

• Engau C., Sprengel D., Hoffmann V.H.: “Fasten Your Seatbelts: European Airline Responses to Climate Change Turbulence”, in Rory Sullivan (ed): Corporate responses to climate change, Greenleaf Publishing (2008)

• Busch T., Klee H., Hoffmann V.H.: “Curbing Greenhouse Gas Emissions on a Sectoral Basis: The Cement Sustainability Initiative”, in Rory Sullivan (ed): Corporate responses to climate change, Greenleaf Publishing (2008)

• Hoffmann V.H., Busch T. (2008): "Kohlenstoff und Klimawandel – neue Herausforderungen für das Risikomanagement von Unternehmen", UmweltWirtschaftsForum 16(2): 53-58

2007

• Chadha A., Hoffmann V. H. (2007): "Biokunststoffe auf dem Vormarsch – von Kohlenstoff zu Kohlenhydraten", in: Umwelt Perspektiven (Dezember 2007): 1-3

• Busch T., Haas C., Hoffmann V. H. (2007): "Carbon-Management wird zum unternehmerischen Erfolgsfaktor", io new management 7-8

• V. Hoffmann, A. Chadha (2007): "Unternehmerische Nachhaltigkeit – Quo Vadis?", Industrie Management, 23 (2007) 2, S. 53-56

2006

• T. Busch, V. Hoffmann (2006): "Sustainability Related Uncertainties and Real Options", Proceedings IFSAM VIIIth World Congress 2006

• V.H. Hoffmann, T. Trautmann (2006): "Why industry matters when studying the effects of regulatory pressure", Proceedings GRONEN 2006: Sustainability Management, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, 262-267

• V.H. Hoffmann, T. Trautmann (2006): "The role of industry and uncertainty in regulatory pressure and environmental strategy", Academy of Management Best Paper Proceedings 2006, D1-D6

2005

• Hoffmann, V., Chadha, A. (2005): "Nachhaltigkeit – ein Schlüssel zum Unternehmenserfolg?", in: Umwelt Perspektiven, Oktober 2005, S. 14-15

2004

• B. Galonske, S. Görner, V.H. Hoffmann, „When payback can take decades”, McKinsey on Finance (13), 10-13, McKinsey & Company, 2004.

2003

• V.H. Hoffmann, A. Müller-Groeling, U. Stegemann, H. Touati, „Increasing enterprise value with risk management” (in german), Basics (8), 26-35, McKinsey & Company, 2003.

2001

• V.H. Hoffmann, “Multi-objective Decision Making under Uncertainty in Chemical Process Design.”, Dissertation ETH Nr. 14140, ETH Zurich, Switzerland, 2001.

2000

• V.H. Hoffmann, V. Radke, „Indicators of sustainable development: a critical review of the 'London School' approach“ (in german), Zeitschrift für Umweltpolitik und Umweltrecht, 23 (2): 145-163, 2000.